The Salvation Army kicks off kettle campaign

The Salvation Army is most visible (and most audible) during the Christmas season.

The red kettle campaign and the corresponding bell ringing is a reminder of the service organization.

But do you know what the Salvation Army does?As Marybeth Niederkorn reported in the Southeast Missourian several months ago, the Salvation Army offers youth programs, a food pantry, Meals with Friends, operates a thrift store and supports victims of natural disasters and other emergencies.

The money that is collected in those kettles is used year around to help the needy in Cape Girardeau.

The Meals with Friends program feeds more than 500 people a week. The food pantry serves 250 to 300 families per month. The Salvation Army canít serve everyone who needs it, but it serves as many as it can.

The Salvation Army of Cape Girardeau is being served by Lts. Matthew and Virginia DeGonia. They have been busy learning the community and its needs since arriving this summer.

The Red Kettle campaign struggled last year; letís rally and remember to drop a few more dollars in the kettles this season. The campaign already is off to a tremendous start thanks to a generous $7,500 donation from the First Presbyterian Church of Cape Girardeau.

This year, The Salvation Army will be manning locations at West Park Mall, J.C. Penny Co., Hobby Lobby, Schnucks, Country Mart, Buchheit, Save-A-Lot, Walmart, Samís, Sears, Macyís and Walgreens.

The goal this year is $300,000. Letís do what we can to help the Salvation not just meet its goal, but help the organization provide food and services for the poor among us.

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In response to your editorial about the Salvation Armyís Christmas drive, I always like to support organizations that help those in greatest need ó no matter who they are, without any restrictions. Unfortunately, the Salvation Army excludes the LGBTQ community from receiving any help ó no matter how great the need ó on religious grounds. Upon reading the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), I cannot imagine that our Lord Jesus would exclude anyone based on their race, ethnicity, gender, age, physical or emotional challenges, political affiliation, socio-economic status ó or sexual orientation and gender identity. If your paper continues to support the Salvation Army, I would hope that you would strongly encourage them to remove all restrictions on those whom they help at Christmas. Until they do, I respectfully make my contributions to inclusive charities. Thank you for considering my point of view.